The Washington bee., 1887-06-04
THE NATIONAL DRILL.
THE WASHINGTON CADETS HONORED.
CUTS OF THE GALLANT OFFICERS
VIRGINIA COMPANIES PROUD OF
THEIR CoLoRED COMPANIES, &c.

VIRGINIA COMPANIES PROUD OF
THEIR CoLoRED COMPANIES, &c.
The great drill is over. The
tents has been folded and the gal
liant gay and sometimes giddy lads
in their blue, green and gray suits
have betaken themselves home
ward, some to the surprising strains
of Dixie while others marched
homeward to the tune of Yankee
Doodle. The empty hotel corridors
and the deserted streets, and the
absence of the curious crowds to
throng the public buildings and
often to store in big-eyed and open
mouthed wonder at colored ladies
and gentlemen employed there all
testify that the drill is over. Camp
Washington is even more lonely
and deserted than the city. The
monument still rises to the proud
height of $50 feet but no tents now
cluster around its base. The once
green and beautiful plot of grass
that stretched off in all directions
from the base is now bruised yel-
low and unattractive. The stately
soldiers, the thousands of specta-
tors of all ages, sizes and condi.
tions of repair are seen no more;
nor is there heard the ringing
cheer, the sharp command, the
ground of arms, the music of the
bands nor the noise of the peanut
and lemonade spectators. All is
once more quiet along the Pote.
mac.
1t has not been six months since
the brilliant young Grady was ora
ting about the peace and harmony
and brotherly love that existed be-
tween the co ored and white people
Of the south, but it has not been
six weeks since that same new
south sent up united and deter
mined howl at the prospect Of
southern gentlemen of the best
families being compelled to sleep
in similar tents, march and drill
on the same ground with "niggers."
The two companies who withdrew
last Wednesday week from the
street parade are doubtless sick if
not ashamed of their action. 1t is
a little strange that men who have
picked cotton with Negroes, played
marbles with Negroes, fought over
hoe cake with Negroes, gone in
swimming with Negroes and often
even nursed at Negro mammy's
breast should raise such a howl
about walking with them in mil
itary parade. If they were consis-
tant they would never 60 on the
streets Of their native cities, for
they are both in front anil behind
Negroes there, they ought not to
60 to glory, for there will be plenty
of cOlored folks in the mansion
next door. They cannot get rid of
him by emigrating to parts un-
known for as the psalmist says,
then take the wings of the morn
ing and fly to the utmost parts Of
the earth he will be there. No, all
this pretended and ridiculous pre-
judice to color is unnatural and
unreal. No class of people love
the Negro like southern whites;
they have him everywhere, in their
carriages, at their tables, in their
stores, kitchens, laundries, sick.
rooms, churches and every other
conceivable place, not because they
cannot get Irish or Germans for
the places but, because they will
not have them. AprOpOs the gen.
eral assembly of Southern Presby-
terians met in st. Louis on the 26th
of May and during the discussion
of "a union with the northern Pres.
byterian church, Rev. G. Waugh,
of Lexington, Va. opposed it, lay
ing particular stress upon the color
line. He bestrayed his fears in the
following sentence :-"After a time
you will see the eloquent black
gentlemen offer his arm to your
white girls and she will gratefully
accept it,"
The colored Cadets, the Attucks
Guard and the State Guard the
former of Washington and the 9TH